Stonewall Jackson Hospital announces New Year’s baby

February 11, 2012

The first baby of 2012 in Lewis County was born on Jan. 1, 2012, at 8:15 a.m. near Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston. He recently was able to come home.

Johnathon Ray Leon weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces and was 17 inches long. He was a little early for his parents. His due date was Feb. 14. So as well as being the Lewis County New Year's Baby, he also was an early surprise for his parents, Rebecca Williams and Christopher Leon.

His mother felt discomfort on Dec. 31, but just chalked it up to normal pregnancy issues. She suffered through the night and then on Sunday morning, New Year's Day, she discovered that the baby was arriving early.

Article Photos

Submitted photoJohnathon Ray Leon was an early surprise for his parents, Rebecca Williams and Christopher Leon. The family is shown here following the baby’s birth near Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston.

"I ran to the car with my fiance because I knew that the baby was coming," Williams said. "I think that it only took us 10 or 12 minutes to make it to the hospital from Jane Lew."

She was composed enough to be able to call the hospital and say what was happening while she was in the car, and the baby was born on the way. She also called her mother to give her the unexpected news.

"By the time I arrived, there was a nurse waiting for me. The baby wasn't making any noise and the nurse started working on him. He started crying and then was wheeled into the hospital," she explained. "It just happened so fast."

Special delivery nurse Jennifer Barnes was the helpful hand for the newborn. Williams stayed at SJMH for six hours but little Johnathon was taken immediately to Ruby Memorial Hospital, in Morgantown. He was a patient in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 21 days before coming home Jan. 21.

The baby's maternal grandparents are Leonard and Patricia Williams of Jane Lew. The baby's paternal grandparents are Holly and Timmy Dollman, of Jane Lew, and Jerry Leon, of Pittsburgh.

As the New Year's baby, little Johnathon received a number of gifts from local businesses. These included: savings bonds from The Citizens Bank, Huntington Bank and United Bank; a flower arrangement from Minnich Florists; baby announcements from Lewis County Printing; a $50 gift certificate from the Theresa Snaith Hospital Auxiliary; a gift from Caplan's Jewelry store; and baby formula and diapers from Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.